When I was a seminarian many years ago in a Roman rite seminary, I also became tonsured in the Melkite Byzantine rite by a visiting Melkite priest. As a result, I was able to assist him actively at the altar as he celebrated the Melkite Byzantine liturgy. What exactly is the nature of a tonsure in the Byzantine Rite? Does the tonsured state cease when one leaves the seminary or is it a continuing state with continuing obligations? I should have thought about the latter question more thoroughly then, but I'm thinking about it now. Thank you!